If you have important data in your PDF file, you always prefer to lock it so that one can open and edit it without your permission. This will provide security to PDF file by applying restrictions of editing. By doing this, any unauthorized person can’t edit it. Through this article, we will be offering you solutions to lock PDF documents from editing. Here, we will talk about manual as well as automated solutions.
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Solutions for locking PDF files from editing
You have multiple options by which locking of PDF file for editing can be done. Here, we are offering you all possible ways to lock Adobe PDF files.
1. Using Adobe Acrobat
With the help of Adobe Acrobat DC, one can easily lock PDF file from opening and editing.
- Open your file in Adobe Acrobat DC and choose ‘Protect’ option from the sidebar.
- Click on ‘Protect using password’ on top bar.
- Choose ‘Viewing’ or ‘Editing’ and enter a password. If you use a password, you must follow the guidelines for applying strong password to protect PDF files.
- To lock a PDF file from editing, go to ‘Editing’ option. Via Advanced options, you can set additional restrictions on PDF file.
2. Using Lock PDF Online Tool
If you don’t want to pay for Adobe Acrobat, you can use online program Lock PDF. This program helps users to lock their PDF document by conversion into JPG format as images are tougher to edit. In this way, by conversion into Image format, you can restrict other from editing your PDF file.
- Go to PDF to JPG Converter and open your PDF file.
- Mark ‘Convert entire pages’ and hit ‘Choose’ option.
- Let it convert your PDF document into images format.
- Hit Continue button to convert PDF into Image format.
- Note: Depending on the size of document, this method will take time. Also, you can use this online program to convert JPG to PDF format.
- Continue: JPG to PDF format.
- Press Convert button and wait for it.
- Download PDF and go to ‘Protect PDF’ from Tools menu.
- Add PDF file and press ‘Encrypt PDF’ by entering password for it.
- Download and find you protected PDF file.
3. Using Automated Program
In case you don’t want to go for above-discussed solutions as they have some drawbacks like 1st method seems costly and 2nd one can be risky and time-taking. In this case, you can opt third-party professional tools like PDF Protector Software. This valuable program allows users to lock PDF file with a password as well as allows applying edit, print & copy restrictions. Users can put desired restrictions on their PDF document with this software.
You can simply add any size PDF file and this program supports all versions. In few clicks, editing restrictions can be easily applied to it and after this, users can’ edit it without knowing the password & removal of restrictions. You have option to set password to PDF. Otherwise, you can directly apply editing restrictions without setting password to PDF file.
- Install and Open PDF Locking Software on your Windows computer.
- Go to Set Security option.
- Then, browse required PDF file for locking.
- Mark ‘Restrict user to edit PDF’. Also, you can set password to PDF, if required.
- Mention path for saving the PDF file after locking for editing.
- Hit Generate PDF file button and wait for a few seconds to provide you resultant PDF file.
Note: To check out this program, go for free version.
Conclusion
You can see that locking a PDF file from editing is simple but users must look for the best solution to do so. For this, we have described three ways in this article that you can use for applying editing restrictions to your PDF file. Among them, third-party software is considered the best solution that one should opt. Although, the choice of method is totally is in user hands.